Bubba Head's Funeral

<Keith Sings>

Robert Porter Head was born in Nashville TN to Linda Graves Head and Herbert Head; passed away on January 27, 2022 at age 53. He was self-employed in construction. He was a member of Mt. Juliet Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Head enjoyed being on the lake, especially boating. He is survived by wife of 7 years, Lori Thompson Head, children Jill, Justin, Zachary, and Lucas, grandchild Preston Porter, father Buddy Head, sisters Patty Robinson, Sissy (Danny) Miller, and Kim Victory, numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, and furry companion Willie. He is preceded in death by mother Linda Head and sister Tina Head Lovell.

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 The Burial of the Dead: Rite Two

O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother (sister) N. We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

<April Sings>

<Sissy Speaks>

Our Deal:

You don’t give me a load of bull, and I won’t give you one either.

“I don’t know if God will still forgive me.”

John Newton, 82 & nearing death whispered to a friend:

“My memory is nearly gone. But I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour.”

1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

Psalm 139:7-10 “Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”

God meets us where we are, because He is everywhere.

There is no such thing as being too far away; too far gone

Psalm 13:1 “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”

Me: Is there anything you are worried or scared about?

Bubba: No. Not a thing. Not any more. I’m ready.

Was he not disqualified?

Bubba was brash, opinionated, and spoke his mind.

Bubba had a temper that sometimes got the best of him

Bubba’s tongue could be fast and sharp

Maybe he earned favor with God:

Bubba married Lori

Bubba fathered Jill, Justin, Zachary, and Lucas.

Bubba ran a business and sought to take care of his family, employees, and friends

If this world should continue another 1,000 years, he will not be named in the volumes of church history, but then neither will I or anyone else here. There is neither a sinner too far gone for God to save, nor a righteous person holy enough to earn God’s favor.

Philippians 3:8-9 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

While in jail, Johnny Brewer visited him regularly, and in doing so shared the gospel of Jesus with him, and in his broken and humbled state, Bubba testified that he had trusted Jesus to the saving of his soul.

Bubba found what John Newton said from his death bed to be true; for great sinners, like Bubba, like me, like you in this room who are ready to admit it, Jesus is a great savior!

He truly had nothing to be worried about in the end.

John 6:40 “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.””

“I want to be with my mom; I’d be better off if I could just go on and be with her.”

His Love for his mom; for his family

Sometimes friction in families is due to someone having a hateful streak, but also it goes to show that those you care about the most have the most access to your heart; that comes with both the ability to comfort and make us most feel loved, as well as the ability to get on our last nerve; it’s just the way of things.

Confirmation of his being prepared to go

The Old Testament spoke about people going to sleep with their fathers; their ancestors.

King David grieved when his child was ill, but seemed almost relieved when the child died, because while he was unable heal the child, he knew some day he would be reunited when he left this world.

This same comfort and assurance is available to all who would turn to Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:39 “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.””

Comfort one another with stories, with hugs, calls, texts, with presence. Share your memories good, bad, or somewhere in-between; in so doing honor Bubba’s memory.

Find strength in community, but especially in looking to Jesus; to His Gospel: He came to live in our place a life none of us live, to dies in our place a death He didn’t want us to have to suffer, and be raised on the 3rd day, showing us that we would not be abandoned in death, but instead raised to everlasting life.

Let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am Resurrection and I am Life.” Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress, and wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend; draw near to all who mourn, and dry the tears of those who weep.

Hear us, Lord.

The Committal

The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 The Committal

Everyone the Father gives to me will come to me;

I will never turn away anyone who believes in me.

He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead

will also give new life to our mortal bodies

through his indwelling Spirit.

My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;

my body also shall rest in hope.

You will show me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy,

and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother Bubba, and we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

For all left in loss and grief, receive this blessing, originally given to the people of God from Aaron the priest in Numbers chapter 6:

The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.